Another iron in the fire
A new Metal & Blacksmithing workshop extends our Outdoor Learning site
Pete, Outdoor Learning Officer, opening the doors to the new metal and blacksmithing workshop space
Volunteers helping to build the new outdoor learning workshop space
Our Outdoor Learning Skills Workshop at Fairford is expanding its footprint with the addition of new dedicated space for metalwork and blacksmithing.
Sitting adjacent to the existing workshop, this new space is a conversion of an old redundant building, which has been re-roofed, with a new floor added which extends outside to create an outdoor working space. The two large doors which secure the indoor storage area have been designed to create this ‘outdoor classroom’ when opened up.
The creation of this new space has been a learning experience in itself, with guided volunteers from our ‘Nature in your Stride’ Communities programme helping with the build. Their involvement was overseen by our Outdoor Learning Officers, and recent addition to the team, Toby, who as a volunteer and a qualified blacksmith, will provide regular support for visiting groups of children and young people.
The new Skills Workshop extension will be fully operational in the coming weeks, once existing metal work machinery has been re-located from the adjacent indoor workshop. This will in turn create a more spacious, dedicated woodwork workshop, able to accommodate larger groups.
Outdoor Learning Officer, Pete, is excited to see plans for this metal & blacksmithing workshop finally come to fruition:
I’m so pleased that the Trustees saw our vision for this redundant building and trusted us to expand the important work we do at the Skills Workshops.
This vision includes a plan to adopt a ‘full circle’ approach, where charcoal made from the Trust’s own coppiced woodland can be used to fuel a charcoal burner for the metal and blacksmithing workshop, as Pete explains:
Growing our own fuel will help reduce this Skills Workshop's carbon footprint – which will provide a range of learning opportunities in the process, while keeping declining rural skills and crafts alive, and so inspiring future career pathways for some of the young people.
The Trust looks forward to welcoming young people from local schools and communities into this new space in the coming weeks.
Watch BBC TV coverage or our ‘pop-up’ Blacksmithing Course, run in partnership with Fresh Air and students from Hereford College of Arts in 2023 – which helped fuel our vision for the new Metal & Blacksmithing Workshop:
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